Peep into my world

Silence closing

2011-02-24T14:29:00.003+05:30

Went like a rock,

Now feel like a flower.

That's what his power...

Muddy water and disturbed mind

2011-02-08T13:46:00.003+05:30

Once Buddha was traveling with a few of his followers. While they were passing a lake, Buddha told one of his disciples, "I am thirsty. Do get me some water from the lake."

The disciple walked up to the lake. At that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake. As a result, the water became very muddy and turbid. The disciple thought, "How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink?"

So he came back and told Buddha, "The water in there is very muddy. I don't think it is fit to drink."

After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake.

The disciple went back, and found that the water was still muddy. He returned and informed Buddha about the same.

After sometime, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back.

This time, the disciple found the mud had settled down, and the water was clean and clear. So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.

Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, "See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be, and the mud settled down on its own -- and you have clear water. Your mind is like that too ! When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don't have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will happen. It is effortless."

Having 'Peace of Mind' is not a strenuous job; it is an effortless process!

Mad Mind

2011-01-15T03:56:00.004+05:30

Child that asks for every toy
Will weep like an unattended boy

Too greedy that can't be fed full
Everyday i fail to tame this bull

Who can bell this cat;
looking for a bulky rat.

Master's presence

2010-08-29T21:37:00.005+05:30

You came, like a glowing sun in the darkest cosmic.
Your rays were sweeping the darkness that was crawn all over me.

You never said a word but said everything you had to say.
You did not even look at me but your eyes never were off me.

You are a banyan tree that every bird can build a nest upon.
I take nap in your shadow on a summer afternoon.

Hurt no living thing:

2010-03-17T23:19:00.000+05:30

Hurt no living thing:
Ladybird, nor butterfly,
Nor moth with dusty wing,
Nor cricket chirping cheerily,
Nor grasshoper so light of leap,
Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fast,
Nor harmless worms that creep.
Hurt no living thing.

By Christina Rossetti (taken from my niece's 3rd std english book)

Hope we need to add innocent human being in this list ;)

Bankei the zen master

2010-03-10T10:03:00.000+05:30

After Bankei (Zen Master) had passed away, a blind man who lived near the master's temple told a friend:"Since I am blind, I cannot watch a person's face, so I must judge his character by the sound of his voice. Ordinarily when I hear someone congratulate another upon his happiness or success, I also hear a secret tone of envy. When condolence is expressed for the misfortune of another, I hear pleasure and satisfaction, as if the one condoling was really glad there was something left to gain in his own world.""In all my experience, however, Bankei's voice was always sincere. Whenever he expressed happiness, I heard nothing but happiness, and whenever he expressed sorrow, sorrow was all I heard."

In shiva's realm

2010-03-07T00:45:00.000+05:30

I don't know how it happened and I'm going to put in words. It was his sheer grace and bliss, that made me have the glimpse of shiva.

I wished I could participate in yatra (organised by Then Kailaiya Bakthi Peravai) on 27th and 28th feb, during lingha bhairavi consecration and left the thought behind. The wish became an opportunity last friday (26th) through a telephone call from balaji asking if I could join yatra. Wow!!! It was definitely to music to ears.

I had promised my wife that we would go to shopping centre and get her something on our 3rd anniversary (though she was not willing to get it). My mom was fuming and fretting, seeing me packing the bag and looking at me as an irresponsible creature. When it's shiva's call, how can I ignore?

I began the journey not knowing if I would be allowed for yatra since I didn't register for it :)

To my surprise, swami allowed me in.

We started the yatra with an intro by swami and video by Sadhguru. Swami started his talk with a verse on shiva and inspiring stories about the sacred place and how reverential we should be in this yatra. Jaggi insisted not to miss this opportunity being born in tamil nadu and dhyanalinga is the essence of what is available in south kailash.

We flagged off the yatra @ half past two in the afternoon at poondi shivan temple, velliangiri foothills. Swami oriented us again that this shouldn't be perceived as trekking but yatra.

Though I was struggling initially and wondering if I could make it up, swami's talks at certain points, explaining the significance of those places and helping us re-gaining the focus, simply kept me going.

At one moment, energies completely drained, I decided to keep away my body and mind for some time and just be with the yatra, I felt I was being pulled up. Nothing could hold me anymore.

After 3rd hill, heads started to disappear one by one. Fear of getting lost, fear of getting attacked by animals, fear of walking alone in the forest, fear of getting slipped in the valleys, I stopped creating them one by one. Journey was effortless afterwards.

I was crawling like an ant in the vast mountain, realising how small I'm, foolishly pretending to be big. Everything looked amusing that night, the rocks, the path, the moon, the trees, the grass, the breeze, the petty shop-in-the forth hill-with single chimney light, the people out there making their living in mountain. What a lovely world it is?!

Reached 6th hill and took 3 dips in frozen aandi sunai (vellaikkara durais, translation please). Needless to say that I enjoyed the delicious dinner prepared by the volunteers.

We were ready to retire for the day in the beautiful tent, they had set up. The thin shawl that I had was helpless in the awful weather, piercing tiny holes in my body. Fortunately one anna had a thick blanket and was generous enough to allow me and another meditator (devotee) by his two sides. All of us stayed very close in bed to get warmth.

I woke up the next day with unknown experience and little excitement. We went through some process before climbing up. Just paused a moment to look at all devotees, from all walks of life, from 1st standard student to 50 year old woman (women below 12 years and above 40 years of age, are allowed), a hefty man, looking hard, whispering to swami with respect, definitely all 70 people had different flavours but only one goal: 7th hill.

Like turning pages of an interesting novel, we were heading towards the mystical kingdom. We reached place and sat under the rock, where shiva had been for a while. The place was reasonating with high decibal chanting, heart breaking devotion and unconditional love. When swami came and spoke about the place, tears started rolling down in his cheeks. One being, who didn't want to miss anyone of us, like a mother taking care of her children, cultivating devotion in ourselves, telling what we need to know and how should we be. A real possibility of how one can be as parent to all beings in the world, accepting things and people as they are and doing what is needed for the situatuon. Even my dumb mind had experienced something indescribable, happening there because of him.

Swami and volunteers are still ringing in my head than the Lord Shiva. What a tremendous world this would be, if all the people dare to hold others' well being more than their lives.

Vote for Isha

2010-01-19T02:11:00.000+05:30

Vote for Isha

Ayutha Puja

2009-09-28T07:17:00.002+05:30

When was the time you cleaned your computer, the vehicle that you are driving on interesting Chennai roads, or at least the LPG stove that cooks your meals daily?

If not, it's time pay to visit and clean them up now!!!

I hope this was the festival which was created keeping in mind that we should treat everything we use in our life as god once in a year.

People in south India almost go cleaning entire house, all their weapons & tools, vehicles and the home will look brand new during puja.

It looked herculean task to clean up my office (while i was working in printing press during 1998-2001) but i felt extremely happy to see my space utter clean and to get 100 bucks from boss ;)

God really lives up in little things; doesn't he?

Horton hears a Who!

2009-09-18T00:37:00.012+05:30

Can you believe there is world inside a speck, with people who can do everything like human beings?

If not, you must watch "Horton hears a Who!" movie.

The movie rolls on as to how Horton, the protagonist, gets hold of the little speck (on which a tiny planet, named as who world, where people exist) and thrives hard to make other animals believe the truth and to save it.

The director dramatically depicted how Horton & mayor (protagonist in Who world) struggle with others in explaining the reality.

Horton finds it difficult to explain this kangaroo (who influences the jungle) didn't like him fooling around people (most importantly the little kangaroo).

Hence the kangaroo employs a giant bird (sorry don't know the name) to smash off the speck and save the jungle from Horton's mad beliefs.

Horton left no stones unturned in order to keep the speck in safest place.

Mayor couldn't even open his mouth that Horton has risked his life to save their planet and people there, must take his advice.

Isn't this really happening in our lives? We can never believe someone who is living real life.

Aren't we living in a little space compared to the galaxy/cosmos/universe or whatever the big space, we have explored so far.

Can you imagine if the earth is passed by friction/motion of nature to a giant being who can hold this planet like Horton holding the little speck?

Peter works by Parvatha

2009-08-02T10:41:00.002+05:30

Write up for Project Green Hands activity at TCS, siruseri by Parvatha:

Ever experienced the fresh air and cool shade in the scorching Sun?

Do you want 100% pure oxy-rich air in this polluted city? that too free of cost??

Well, you think I must be joking. But I am not. A tree can give us all these and much more. Our lives are directly connected with greeneries (trees) around us. What we exhale, they inhale. What they exhale, we inhale. This is a constant trasaction.

In this regard, The HSE team of TCS Siruseri in partnership with Isha Foundation has started its nursery near the Gate-2 in our premises. About 2000 green babies will smile at you when enter the nursery and we are proceeding towards 10000 saplings. We have Plantations every week. On 19th June, 2009 our AXA associates too took part in this green initiative.

It's a simple and effective way to combat the increasing effect of Global warming. Its time we stand together and make it happen.

Samyama

2009-07-19T12:57:00.005+05:30

Life & Death
That is my breath

Hell & Heaven
The days are seven

Day & Night
My body on flight

Your roaring voice
Flowing grace

Piercing logic
Vibrant music

Reminder drums
Unknown drinks

Crazy sounds
Funny noises

Why do you call it as silence?

Resource utilization

2009-03-30T13:28:00.003+05:30

Buddha, one day, was in deep thought about the worldly activities and the ways of instilling goodness in human beings.

One of his disciples approached him and said humbly "Oh my teacher! While you are so much concerned about the world and others, why don't you look in to the welfare and needs of your own disciples also."

Buddha: "Ok.. Tell me how I can help you."

Disciple: "Master! My attire is worn out and is beyond the decency to wear the same. Can I get a new one, please?"

Buddha found the robe indeed was in a bad condition and needed replacement. He asked the store keeper to give the disciple a new robe to wear on. The disciple thanked Buddha and retired to his room.

A while later, he went to his disciple's place and asked him "Is your new attire comfortable? Do you need anything more?"

Disciple: "Thank you my Master. The attire is indeed very comfortable. I need nothing more."

Buddha: "Having got the new one, what did you do with your old attire?"

Disciple: "I am using it as my bed spread."

Buddha: "Then.. hope you have disposed off your old bed spread."

Disciple: "No.. no.. master. I am using my old bedspread as my window curtain."

Buddha: "What about your old Curtain?"

Disciple: "Being used to handle hot utensils in the kitchen."

Buddha: "Oh.. I see.. Can you tell me what did they do with the old cloth they used in Kitchen?"

Disciple: "They are being used to wash the floor."

Buddha: "Then, the old rug being used to wash the floor...?"

Disciple: "Master, since they were torn off so much, we could not find any better use, but to use as a twig in the oil lamp, which is right now lit in your study room...."

Buddha smiled in contentment and left for his room.

If not to this degree of utilization, can we at least attempt to find the best use of all our resources at home and in office.

We need to handle wisely, all the resources earth has bestowed us with ….both natural and material so that they can be saved for the generations to come.

Straight Slap

2009-03-23T16:33:00.002+05:30

I think It happened in 2006. I went to Isha T.Nagar office for some inquiry.

There was a swami in information desk. While leaving, he gave me a pamphlet for Mahashivarathiri.

I asked him with a giggle (ignorant ego), "Should i volunteer or give some donation?".

He looked at my eyes deeply, didn't even pause for a moment & said, "Don't do anything, just for information".

I was unable to be there and left the place immediately.

வெண்ணிலா கபடி குழு

2009-02-16T18:08:00.006+05:30

உள்ளூர் கபடி போட்டிகளில் தோற்று வரும் நண்பர் குழு எப்படி மாநில போட்டியை வெல்கிறது என்பது கதை.

கண்களில் ஒற்றி கொள்ளும் ஒளிப்பதிவு, நெஞ்சை கரைக்கும் இசை, நேர்த்தியான திரைக்கதை, ஈர்க்க வைக்கும் கதாபாத்திரங்கள் என விறுவிறுப்பாக செல்கிறது படம்.

கதாநாயகியின் பெயரை கடைசி வரை சொல்லாமல் இருந்தது புதுமை.

திருவிழா காட்சிகள் உங்களை கிராமத்துக்கே அழைத்து செல்கிறது. ராட்டினம், கூத்து, கரகாட்டம், குச்சி ஐஸ், மஞ்சள் தண்ணீர் விளையாட்டு, மெது சைக்கிள் போட்டி, உரி அடித்தல், குழந்தைகள் விளையாட்டு, சத்தாபரணம் என எல்லாவற்றையும் பதிவு செய்திருக்கிறார்கள்.

உரி அடித்தலில் நாயகி நாயகனுக்கு கொலுசு சத்தம் செய்தே சைகை செய்வது கவிதை.

நலிந்து வரும் கிராம விளையாட்டுகளையும், திருவிழாக்களையும் தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு நினைவு படுத்திய இயக்குனருக்கு நன்றி.

Staying Awake

2009-02-09T15:30:00.017+05:30

People call it a stupid decision but I did it. I went to my hometown (Attur, 285 kms away from Chennai) by bike on Saturday. I knew it would be a risk but I loved to take it. I was also thinking of Sadhguru's journeys in his motorbike. The moment I completed my practice after class volunteering, I kept my bike key in front of Jaggi's pic and I wished for a long ride. I had an instinct that I got a green signal. I went to my friend's home nearby and had 'Tango' juice. I told my friend that I was having a thought to travel by bike. She advised not to do.

Somehow my inclination drove me to take a decision and I changed the gears @ 11.40 am.
Drove first 50 kms, and stopped to in-take a tender coconut road by. I used to keep my spine straight whenever I felt a pain over it, which helped getting the rid the feel of it. I didn't feel like eating break fast so I went on biking.

I took the bye-pass road for about next 100 kms and stopped at a hotel for having brunch. I asked the hotel owner if I could do shoonya and have my food. He said yes. I had my brunch after completing shoonya, after which I could feel a complete sense of energy and relaxation.

50 more kms, stopped for a tender coconut and continued the trip. 50 more kms, the engine started trembling. Switched off the engine for a while and re-started, set the speed limit to 45-55 kmph. I was little tired in last 30 kms but I kept myself going

I reached my hometown @ 5.40 pm. Did shoonya after sometime and rejuvenated myself. I had to wake up early next day morning for attending a wedding. I was in a dilemma to do shambavi again or not. Somehow my body was yearning for it and I let it do. Went to bed @ 12 am.

Woke up next day quarter to 4 am. I attended the wedding at thiruchengodu (journey by bus for around 200 kms to & fro) and came back to home @ 2.15 pm

Shoonya, bath, shambavi and then lunch @ 5 pm (Obviously laziness).

Was not quite sure how would I make the return journey alone. Somehow my passion for biking dipped down due to body pain. I also had advice from my family to start @ 4 pm so that I can reach Chennai before midnight. I checked through my friend & sister if anybody could accompany me to Chennai. Attempt failed.

I called my friend (Kavas) whose hometown (chinnasalem) is 30 kms en route to Chennai, to check if he is home(town). Surprisingly, he was and also agreed to come with me. We planned to start in the night as he had some engagements in the evening.

Shoonya, dinner, ignited the engine @ 9.45 pm. Reached Kavas home @ 10.45 pm had milk tea, and then started @ 11.30 pm. Kavas agreed to drive about first 150 kms where the road will be two-way. Had 2 black teas in between.

To drive is interesting but it's not to sit in pillion ;)

Somehow I taught my mind to live in the moment and avoided fearing unnecessarily.

It was my turn. It was full of mist, my body was shivering.

Kavas "Can I drive?"

Me "No. I can manage."

I was just there in it. I had never been such focussed. I was able to go on, on & on. My mind was in an illusion that I couldn't believe that was driving in that condition (awful weather, body pain etc). Anyway we made it to Chennai @ 4 am today morning. Went to bed @ 6 am and woke up @ 10.30 am.

Shoonya, bath, shambavi, brunch and office...

Lay off!!!

2009-02-04T18:42:00.010+05:30

Once upon a time the government with Ruling Party XYZ had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert.

XYZ thought

- "Someone may steal from it at night."

So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job.

- "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?"

So they created a planning department and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one person to do time studies.

- "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?"

So they created a Quality Control department and hired two people. One to do the studies and one to write the reports.

- "How are these people going to get paid?"

So they created the following positions, a time keeper, and a payroll officer, then hired two people.

- "Who will be accountable for all of these people?"

So they created an administrative section and hired three people, an Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, and a Legal Secretary.

- "We have had this command in operation for one year and we are $18,000 over budget, we must cutback overall cost."

So they laid off the night watchman and kept everyone else in the government.

Stock Market

2009-01-21T16:11:00.013+05:30

It was autumn, and the Red Indians asked their New Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was a Red Indian chief in a modern society, he couldn't tell what the weather was going to be..Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his Tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect wood to be prepared.

But also being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked "Is the coming winter going to be cold?" "It looks like this winter is Going to be quite cold indeed," the weather man Responded.

So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more Wood. A week later, he called the National Weather Service again. "Is it going to be a very cold winter?" "Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "It's definitely going to be a very cold winter."

The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find. Two weeks later, he called the National Weather Service again."Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?" "Absolutely, " The Man replied. "It's going to be one of the coldest winters ever.""How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked. The weatherman replied, "The Red Indians are collecting wood like Crazy."

This is how stock market works!!!

Yes Man

2009-01-20T15:56:00.011+05:30

What would happen if you start saying, “Yes” to everything?

Jim Carrey (playing as Carl) is a “No-Man” to almost everything in his life. He agrees to take a covenant in a workshop “Say yes to everything”.

His first “Yes” was to a beggar. He says, “Yes” to drive him to a park, gives his cell phone to talk till the battery exhausts and finally offers all the money that was in his wallet. He gets to meet Zoey Deschanel (playing as Allison), in gasoline bunk, who offers him a ride to the park (and of course a straight & sudden lip kiss).

He falls off the stairs, gets a close shave to a barking dog after saying “no” to his neighbor the next day. Then he decides to say, “yes” to everything that comes to him.

Carl tries his hand at everything that he comes across and also helps others through what he had learnt. Saving a guy, who decided to kill himself, gets him a lot of applauds.

He meets Allison again in a night pub, where she works as play singer. He discovers that she is perfect match. Having proposed to each other, when the couple begins to explore the unseen pages of their life, Carl ends up in trouble as the police suspect him as a terrorist, spying all his activities. Though Carl’s friend, bails him out, Allison broke up her love, knowing that he had been saying “YES” to everything though he didn’t like some.

The story ends with how he gets clarity on the covenant and leads a beautiful life then.

Hide and seek

2009-01-14T14:50:00.005+05:30

Again i don't hesitate to do the same mistakes again;

How could you still accept me as i am.

I keep falling in the trap;

You keep lifting me up.

I go far & far away from you;

You come very closer to me.

I'm still the same mad as you have known,

not even ashamed of what i'm doing;

You keep blessing me everytime.

I do all the nonsense and come to you;

You chuckle at me and reinvent the wheel.

Let me out this little hut

2008-10-10T10:37:00.004+05:30

I don't wanna be in this little hut

Let me free

Let me sing

Let me dance

Let me live

Take my whole day

Make me drop a tear

Where are my wings?

Who stole my eyes?

I even lost the little key

you gave me to unlock my handcuff

I beg you again;

Will you get me out this trap?

Mahabalipuram

2008-09-24T20:56:00.008+05:30

http://www.flickr.com/photos/prabhu_loganathan/tags/mahabalipuram/

சைக்கிள் டயரில் தப்பியவை...

2008-09-23T21:55:00.006+05:30

விடிந்தும் விடியாத

ஓர் மார்கழி வேளையில்

சேவலோடு விழித்தெழுந்து

நீ விரித்த தரைச்சித்திரத்தில்,

உன் புறக்கை ஒதுக்கிய

வியர்வைத்துளிகள் பட்ட புள்ளிகள் மட்டும்

என் சைக்கிள் டயரிலிருந்து தப்புவிக்கும்...

ஓராயிரம் பார்வையிலே...

2008-09-23T21:27:00.008+05:30

பாவைகளின் பார்வைகளின்
பதிவுக்கருவி என் கண்கள்;
பூவால் வருடிவிடும் உன் பார்வை
மட்டும் பதிவு செய்ய அழித்துகொண்டிருக்கிறது
ஓராயிரம் பார்வைகளை...

It dseno't mtaetr

2008-09-23T21:18:00.007+05:30

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid, too. Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe tuo fo 100 anc. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghitpclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit apboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter byistlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh?

Sadhguru

2008-09-19T14:29:00.004+05:30

You tore my mask,

gave me a mirror to look at...

I was scared to see my face screaming;

You stood by my side laughing.